CertainTeed has completed a $240 million expansion of its gypsum wallboard plant in Palatka, Fla., a project company leaders say transforms the site into the largest wallboard manufacturing facility in the world while bringing more than 100 new jobs to Putnam County, reported Peter Willott of the Palatka Daily News.

Employees, local officials and industry partners gathered Friday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the launch of a second production line at the U.S. 17 facility — an addition executives described as both a capacity boost and a long-term commitment to the community.

The project added roughly 100,000 square feet to the plant and significantly increased output to help meet rising housing demand across the southeastern United States.

“This is now the biggest wallboard plant in the world,” said Mark Rayfield, CEO of CertainTeed North America. He credited local workers for executing the expansion while maintaining strong production. “We’ve doubled the capacity here and created over 100 new jobs. That’s an extraordinary accomplishment by this team and this community.”

For Plant Manager Deborah Master, who has worked at the site since it opened in 2001, the expansion marked both a professional and personal milestone.

“We’ve come such a long way, and I’m incredibly proud of this team,” Master said. She noted the plant offers career pathways for employees entering the workforce with limited formal education. “You can come in with a high school diploma, get trained, move up and build a future.”

With the new line running, employment at the facility is expected to surpass 240 workers. Many employees have spent more than a decade at the plant, and in some cases multiple generations of the same family now work there.

“This place is like a family,” Master said. “We don’t just grow production; we grow people.”

Company officials also highlighted sustainability investments tied to the expansion. Rather than lower-cost, higher-fuel furnaces, CertainTeed installed high-efficiency systems designed to reduce energy use. The new production line incorporates recycled materials, including recovered gypsum board, and features improvements aimed at better air quality and overall energy performance.

“We spent more to make it more sustainable,” Rayfield said, adding that environmental responsibility and product quality go hand in hand for the company and its customers.

Local leaders praised the project as a significant economic development win.

Putnam County Commission Chairwoman Leota Wilkinson said the investment brings well-paying jobs and signals opportunity for future industry. “When people see success here, others will follow,” she said.